Birth Control Pill Brands

There are so many birth control pill brands that choosing one can be intimidating. While your doctor can help you select the right one for you, it helps to understand the different types of pills.

When birth control pills first appeared on the market in the early 1960s, there weren't a lot of choices available. The original pill was high in estrogen, and it had significant side effects. However, women chose to use the pill because it was the most discreet and reliable form of birth control available. Over the years, researchers figured out that decreasing the estrogen dose reduced the side effects without making the pill less effective.

Today's birth control pills come in several different types. They all contain hormones which work by preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs into the uterus. They also affect the uterine lining, so it would be difficult for a fertilized egg to develop.

Sometimes, choosing among birth control pill brands is less important than choosing the type of pill and the regimen to follow. The first decision is which hormone or hormones the pill will contain.

• Estrogen plus progestin. Most pills contain both hormones, and the modern estrogen dose is much lower than the older pills.
• Low-estrogen. Using the lowest possible estrogen dose helps minimize side effects. However, breakthrough bleeding (spotting between periods) can be a problem.
• Progestin only (also called the "mini-pill"). Estrogen gets into breast milk, so this pill is a good choice for breast-feeding moms. The mini-pill must be taken at the same time every day, and users may also notice breakthrough bleeding.

The next choice is which regimen is the best fit.

• Monthly. Most birth control pill brands come in monthly packs. The schedule involves taking hormone pills for three weeks, then taking placebos (pills without any medicine) for a week. Bleeding similar to a menstrual period occurs during the placebo week. Monthly pills come in steady-dose packs and in doses that change gradually over the three weeks. The changing dose is meant to mimic a normal menstrual cycle.
• 24-day cycle. By taking a specially-dosed pill for 24 days in a row instead of 21, a woman can often shorten her periods to less than three days.
• Three months at a time. This schedule involves taking steady-dose pills every day for three months, then taking a week of placebos. It allows a woman to have a period only four times a year.

In addition to the different schedules, birth control brands contain varying types of estrogen and/or progestin. They all work essentially the same way; it's just that the molecular structure is a little different for each. One reason for the different types is that having a unique molecule allows the company to patent their brand. Another reason, though, is both helpful and confusing: different types of hormones seem to have varied side effects in different women.

That means that one brand might make a woman feel irritable and bloated, while another brand lets her feel like herself again. The only way to find the best match is to give each brand a try. Doctors usually recommend trying one pill for a few months and "waiting out" any side effects. If your body hasn't adjusted to the pill after three months, it's time to try another brand.

Most birth control pill brands are very similar. Doctors will often recommend one based on what that doctor is used to, on what a patient's insurance will cover, or on what an uninsured patient can afford. However, a few brands do have special features.

• Yasmin contains a special form of progestin. It appears to help with PMS symptoms, including water retention and bloating.
• Loestrin FE is meant to be taken on a 24-day cycle. It's made for women who want to have shorter, lighter periods. Although most birth control pill brands will make periods lighter, Loestrin seems to have an especially strong effect.
• Seasonale is marketed as a three-month pill. Many birth control pill brands can be prescribed this way, but this is the first one to be sold specifically in three-month packs.

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